Greg Wood and Chris Cook are both in the running for the prestigious John Oaksey Trophy for Racing Reporter of the Year. The Guardian and Observer's racing journalists are on a shortlist of four for the Horserace Writers award, voted for by their fellow professionals.

Wood has collected the sought-after accolade before in 2009 while Cook was also shortlisted in 2010, the year he was first eligible for the prize. The awards will be handed out on Monday 3 December at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London when racing writers will also select the owner, trainer, jockey and broadcaster who have made the most significant impact on the racing world in 2012.